Tuesday, 12 May 2026

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:04): (2309) My question is also to the Minister for Police. Russell Frajman is a 65-year-old pharmacist who has operated his business in St Kilda for 35 years with his wife Charlotte. I have known both Russell and Charlotte for years, and they have been telling me about the escalating crime in and around the St Kilda area, with local traders and residents often speaking out on how unsafe they are feeling. On 28 April Russell was violently assaulted by a man who had previously been observed stealing from the store. When Russell told him to leave, the man hurled verbal abuse and punched him, leaving him with bruises and cuts on his face and broken glasses. Charlotte called 000 but was told police were too busy to attend. Meanwhile, the perpetrator remained nearby, walking up and down the street outside the pharmacy as Charlotte attended to Russell’s injuries. Despite multiple calls to 000, it took 24 hours for the police to attend. After this vicious attack on a community pharmacist in the heart of Melbourne, why did it take police 24 hours to arrive at the scene?